St. John's University Athletics
QUOTES: St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino Prior to New York Yankees First Pitch
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night
Head Coach Rick Pitino
On throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium…
“I think it’s awesome to be here. Everything about this place is amazing and its history reminds me of coming here in my younger days.”
On RJ Luis Jr. entering the NBA Draft…
“He’s going to be a great pro. What people don’t realize is how good of a passer, how good of a shot blocker, how good of an offensive rebounder he is, they just see is his scoring ability. He’ll improved his 3-point shooting when he gets to that level and then he’ll be lethal in what he can do.”
On growing up going to Yankees games …
“At the old stadium, I was 10 or 11 [years old] living in the Bronx off the Grand Concourse, I used to take my two girl cousins. We would catch about eight day games a year. One of the best third baseman Clete Boyer, [Tony] Kubek, [Robert] Richardson, [Bill] Skowron, [Mickey] Mantle, [Roger] Maris, Hector Lopez out in left, he was out there. Johnny Blanchard. I have so many great memories. Then going through the [Derek] Jeter and [Jorge] Posada days, to now. I think this team has the potential to win at all.”
On the new St. John’s roster…
“I think they are extremely athletic. We improved our shooting, which needed to be addressed. I think we’ll be a much better 3-point shooting team this year, we just have to match the defense that we played last year.”
On throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium…
“I think it’s awesome to be here. Everything about this place is amazing and its history reminds me of coming here in my younger days.”
On RJ Luis Jr. entering the NBA Draft…
“He’s going to be a great pro. What people don’t realize is how good of a passer, how good of a shot blocker, how good of an offensive rebounder he is, they just see is his scoring ability. He’ll improved his 3-point shooting when he gets to that level and then he’ll be lethal in what he can do.”
On growing up going to Yankees games …
“At the old stadium, I was 10 or 11 [years old] living in the Bronx off the Grand Concourse, I used to take my two girl cousins. We would catch about eight day games a year. One of the best third baseman Clete Boyer, [Tony] Kubek, [Robert] Richardson, [Bill] Skowron, [Mickey] Mantle, [Roger] Maris, Hector Lopez out in left, he was out there. Johnny Blanchard. I have so many great memories. Then going through the [Derek] Jeter and [Jorge] Posada days, to now. I think this team has the potential to win at all.”
On the new St. John’s roster…
“I think they are extremely athletic. We improved our shooting, which needed to be addressed. I think we’ll be a much better 3-point shooting team this year, we just have to match the defense that we played last year.”